Gallery: Alternative-powered cars

Steam: Stanley car, depicted in an 1899 photo. The Stanley Motor Carriage Company built steam-powered cars, often referred to as "Stanley Steamers", which competed more or less equally with other forms of propulsion in the early-20th century. Wikimedia Commons photo.

PHOTO: Unknown/Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Elecric: Henney Kilowatt, 1960. Wikimedia Commons photo.

PHOTO: DRoberson, Wikimedia Commons

Steam: Pellandini Steam Car. Peter Pellandine built a small number of steam-powered kit cars in the early-1970s. Wikimedia Commons photo.

Electric: 1901 Columbia Electric ad. Reads: "This is our latest model of electric vehicle, embodying the most successful lines of gasolene carriage construction. Its radius on each battery charge is forty miles, and its maximum speed is fourteen miles per hour. The tonneau is removable, and in its place may be substituted either a broad seat for two passengers, a rumble or a hamper for luggage." Wikimedia Commons photo.

PHOTO: Columbia Automobile Company, Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

Electric: Columbia Electric Runabout, 1904. Electric cars were as common as gas-powered ones in the early-20th Century, but eventually fell out of favour largely due to their shorter range and slower speed. Wikimedia Commons photo.

Electric: Honda EV Plus (1997-99). Honda produced a battery-electric car - the first from a major automaker to use non-lead acid batteries. Wikimedia Commons photo.

PHOTO: Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Electric: ZAP Xebra, a three-wheeled electric vehicle (hopefully not in the same tradition as the Reliant Robin). Wikimedia Commons photo.

PHOTO: DDima, Wikimedia Commons

Electric: Th!nk City, 2008-11. Wikimedia Commons photo.

PHOTO: tomislavmedak, Wikimedia Commons

Tesla Motors, Inc.
As of January 2011, Tesla Motors has delivered more than 1,500 Roadsters in at least 30 countries, with the automaker saying it will produce a total production run of 2,400 vehicles.
Pictured: Tesla Roadster.

PHOTO: Handout, Tesla Motors

Hybrid: Honda Insight, 2000-2006. The first-generation Insight was the first hybrid available in North America. Wikimedia Commons photo.

, Wikimedia Commons

The 2010 Toyota Prius.

PHOTO: Handout, Toyota

The 2010 Honda Insight.

PHOTO: Handout, Honda

2012 Chevrolet Volt.

PHOTO: Bob McHugh, for PNG

2012 Nissan Leaf.

PHOTO: Vancouver Sun, file

Hydrogen: Honda FC Sport concept

PHOTO: Handout, Honda

Hydrogen: A hydrogen-powered RiverSimple urban car is pictured outside Somerset House in central London on June 16, 2009.